Courtesy: Bernama


Asian Football Confederation Futsal Championship

By D. Arul Rajoo

BANGKOK, April 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysia face an uphill battle in the 10th edition of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Futsal Championship when the national side was drawn in Group C with 2007 semifinalist Uzbekistan.

Besides third seed Uzbekistan, Malaysia, ranked 14th in the 16-team tournament to be held from May 11 to 18 here, will also play fifth seed Lebanon and South Korea.

Malaysia, coached by P. Balakrishnan, and Taiwan qualified for the final rounds from the qualifying meet held in Kuala Lumpur last month.

In the draw meet here Friday, eight-time champion and favourite Iran was slotted in a relatively easy Group D with Tajikistan, China and qualifiers Kuwait.

But it won't be that easy for 2006 champions and last year's runner-up Japan who are grouped together with Australia, Turkmenistan and Taiwan.

Host Thailand, one of the tops in the region and SEA Games gold medallist, was placed in Group A with 2007 semi-finalists Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia and Iraq.

The top two teams from each group will advance into the quarter finals, as the four semi-finalists qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup later this year. GROUPINGS: Group A: Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Iraq, Indonesia. Group B: Japan, Australia, Turkmenistan, Taiwan. Group C: Uzbekistan, Lebanon, South Korea, Malaysia Group D: Iran, Tajikistan, China, Kuwait.





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com